Late push to nudge Paris over the line

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Several senior International Olympic Committee members have been
spruiking for Paris in a desperate last-minute measure to get the
city over the line at today's vote for the 2012 Olympic Games.

Sources have told The Age that IOC president Jacques Rogge and
officials of the Lausanne-based Olympic hierarchy are keen for the
French capital to get the nod over London and New York.

The Paris bid has been dampened by the late arrival of President
Jacques Chirac, the corruption allegations levelled at senior bid
member Guy Drut, and the lack of big international stars.

"London and New York are the ones that look like they really
really want the Games," said one member. "But in the lobby there
are a lot of people doing Rogge's bidding, talking up Paris."

Australia's influential IOC member Kevan Gosper says last-minute
jockeying of high-powered government officials and celebrities had
narrowed the vote to the closest he had known.

"No one knows (who will win), there is a feeling that maybe
Paris and London will battle it out because they have tried so many
times before, but a lot depends on the rounds of voting," he said
last night.

Each of the five cities will make a one-hour final pitch to the
116 members. The winning city will be announced by Rogge about 9.30
tonight (Melbourne time).

Rogge said last night that the vote was too close to call , but
that "the IOC is the winner".

"All five cities are capable of hosting a magnificent Games," he
said.

At the first official gathering of all the IOC members, who were
introduced to Singapore Government officials yesterday, there was
no talk of cities, but rather a straw poll about the number of
rounds the voting will go. One city is eliminated until a city has
a clear majority. The consensus among the members was four
rounds.

Observers noted that Moscow was being flamboyant in its offers
to IOC members, but is widely acknowledged to have little
chance.

New York brought out Muhammad Ali for a picture opportunity with
mayor Michael Bloomberg yesterday, but the stunt may have
backfired. Ali could do little more than blink furiously as the
flashlights strobed and those in the audience felt it was nothing
more than exploitation.

But New York's chances will increase if it can survive the first
round of voting as other fallen European cities swing behind
it.

One IOC member said London's momentum could result in
spectacular victory, or spectacular failure. "They could win
because they have been pulling out all stops . . . but if a lot of
people think that and give another city a first-round vote for
political or personal reasons London may even go in the first
round," he said.